Toothpick dispenser



.lune 20, 1950 J. J. soLoMoN TooTHPIcK DISPENSER Fild NOV. 1B, 1947Patented `lune 20, 1950 t IUNITED :STATES PATENT GFFICE ,"roo'rnricxDISPENSER y' vJesse-il. Solomon, Legion, Tex. Appuaribn ueyem'ber 1s,1947, serial No. 786,612

This invention relates to improvements in dispensers for toothpicks,matches'andsimilar small articles, and more particularly to an improveddispenser for storing toothpicks and dispensing them, substantially oneat a time, upon -manual actuation of the dispenser.

It is among the objects ofthe linvention to provide an improveddispenser which is easy to operate, positivem operation, eiective todeliver a single toothpick, orv not more` than 'two or three toothpicks,at atime, is easyto load, retains a supply of toothpicks in a sanitarycondition, and delivers single toothpicks to a location from which theymay be easily removed for use, and which is simple in construction,economical to manufacturevand neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following description in conjunction withvthe accompanyingdrawing wherein: v

Figure l is a side elevationof a toothpick dispenser illustrative of theinvention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the toothpick dispenser illustrated inFigure 1;

Figure v3is a vertical longitudinal cross-section taken substantially onthe line 3,-3 of Figure 2;

and n Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of a fragmentary lowerportion of the dispenser taken substantially on the line 4-4 )of Figure3. l

With continued reference to the drawing, the improved dispenser hasa'pair of side walls I0, a back Wall II and a front wall -I2 inclosing arectangular upright chamber having a width slightly greater than thelength of a conventional toothpick. A top cover I3 is hinged at its rearedge to the upper edge of back wall I I by a. suitable hinge I4 andextends'forwardly over the upper end of the chamber resting upon the topedges of the back side and front walls. This cover may be raised, whendesired, for access to the interior of the upper end of the chamber toplace a supply of toothpicks in the storage compartment provided in theupper portion of the chamber.

The front wall I2 has its lower edge I5 positioned a considerabledistance above the bottom of the chamber and a base or bottom wall I6 issecured to the bottom edges of the back and side walls and extendsforwardly of the plane of the front wall I2. The side walls are providedat their lower ends with forwardly direction extensions Il which extendalong the base I6 to a location near the front edge thereof and haveupwardly and rearwardly inclined top edges which `1 claim. (ci. 31a-84)f side wall extensions.

extend from a position somewhat above the front edge of the base to thebottom edge I5 of the front Wall I2, as is clearly illustrated inFigures 1 and 3. A low, forwardly and upwardly inclined, wall I8 extendsalong the front edge portion of the base I6 between the forward ends ofthe side Wall extension I'I and a movable inclined` cover I9 ispivotally connected at its upper edge by a hinge 20 to the lower edgeportion of the front wall I2 and rests upon the inclined upper edges ofthe This cover has a downwardly and rearwardly inclined wall 2I securedto its underside at the front edge thereof the lower edge of which restsupon the top edge of the wall I8 when the cover is closed, asillustrated in Figure 3. A tongue 22 extends outwardly from the front orlower edge of the inclined cover I9 at the center thereof, as is clearlyillustrated in Figure 2, to provide a convenient lift for the cover sothat access may be conveniently had to the space between the side wallextensions and below the cover I9 when desired. n

A pair of downwardly and inwardly inclined baiiles 23 and 24 are securedin the chamber intermediate the height thereof and constitute a bottomfor the toothpick storage compartment in the upper portion of thechamber.

The baille 24 is secured to the back wall I I and the baiiie 23 issecured to the front wall I2 and extends rearwardly of and below thebottom edge of the baiile 24. The two bailies converge to the transversecenter of the chamber between the front and back walls thereof and theconvergent edge portions are spaced apart a distance which is normallyinsuicient to permit the passage of a toothpick therebetween.

A cylindrical roller 25 is positioned immediately below the bottom edgeof baille 23 and has reduced cylindrical end portions 2B and 2ljournalled in suitable apertures provided in the side walls I0, as isclearly illustrated in Figure 4. This cylindrical roller has threelongitudinal grooves 28 therein which are preferably spaced at equalangular distances around the outer surface thereof and are of a size tonormally receive a single toothpick. The roller is positioned so that itcontacts the lower edge of the baille 23, as shown in Figure 3 andnormally holds this edge of the baille in a position relative to theopposed lower edge of the baille 24 such that a toothpick cannot passbetween the lower convergent edges of the two bailles. However, when thelower edges of baille 23 drops into one of the grooves 28 the baiiiesare suiiiciently separated to permit a toothpick to pass therebetweenand the flexible baille 3 23 is slightly jarred to cause a toothpick topass between the convergent edges of the baiiles and fall into the uppergroove 38 in the roller 25.

A hand knob 29 is secured on the longer reduced end portion 21 of theroller in a manner such that the roller is constrained to turn with thehand knob, and an apertured reinforcing plate 30, secured to theadjacent side Wall, also rotatablyv receives theY longer reducedend'portionv. 21 of thelroller. to provide additionalfbearingsury facefor the end of the roller to which the han knob is attached.

Toothpicks dropping into the grooves, 28. ofthe. roller are dropped bythe roller, upon con# tinued rotation thereof, upon theupperrendiporition of an inclined plate 3l which extends..from- Theinvention may be embodied in other s'pelciiic forms Without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come Within the meaning and" rangeof.;equivalency.A of`tlie claim areltlierefore intended wehe-embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:

In a toothpick dispenser having a front wall, abackwall and two sidewalls dening an upright chamber, a pair of downwardly and inwardlyinclined baffles in said chamber secured one. to. said frontv wall andone to said back wall the inner lower edge of wall I'8`to the innersurface of back wall Ii at a, position aboveatheba'se.

I6 and substantially at the level of the roller 25. Toothpicks.deposited. upon f the; upperA portion. of... the.. inclined plate 3lslide down. this inclined. plateand ontoapairofspaced ramps `i2 which.position the toothpick at the inner; upper edgezof wall i8.. and abovethe lower edge portion-of. in` clined plate Slisotliatthe toothpickcanbe easily; grasped by the` lingers; ci apersondesiring V to-y removelthetoothpicl frornthe dispenser. This` grasping of. thetoothpick-isfacilitatedby the provision of a recessv iin walll betweenthe-ramps 32. Atongue Sli-extending from. wall 'l-.closesy the recess S3Whenthe cover I9 is closed.

Theentire dispenser is `)preferablyformed.,of al suitable translucentortransparent material such; asa suitable synthetic resinbutsornelof'thefparts,L such as vthehand knobli andthe-tongue -2 2; may; becolored, if desired..

The upper portion of .the chamber betweenthe. bailles. 2-3 and. 2.4 andthe Yhinged .cover l 3; provides? storage space for a large quantityof.- toothpjicks andmaintains the toothpicks.- in a.. sanitary conf-ydition. As the toothpicks aref dispensed. byfthea roller. 251 they falltothe ramps 32. where. they are. protected bvl the. inclined cover. I9so that... if. any toothp-icks accumulate on the ramps, theyl arealso\1naintained.in..a cleanand sanitari/L''confdition until used.

TheY base. I 5 xisl preferably extended beyondfthe sideavalls i 0 ,and.is provided in .this extendedtpoition with suitable apertures,throughfwhich :sc reivs,

or, other; fastening devices may be. extended. t secure'the: dispensersolidly to favccunter cri-tablez orlby means oi which-.rubber suctionm1135533 be secured. to the base` to. mount. the. dispensers upon asmooth surface..

As is apparent from the.drawing,.theedevieesiss extizernelyL simple. inconstruction, positive sini operationI and.l is .easily` operated to.dispenses toothcpicks substantially; one at altima,whenever;des sired.

andv converging to the transverse center of Said chamber; between saidfront and back walls, one of said baflles being disposed at its loweredge below..y the.y lower;` edgefof'. the-.other/ baille.- andfbeingmovable relative .tofsaicL` other baille.- to fopen, and close. betweenthel contiguousV portions. of. said baieslafy passage havingva.,rnaXim-umI width; onlyl suihcient to admit :one toothpic-kyat.a..:time.-there. through, a roller extending;transverselyfosaid;chamber.- in;` contacts with.l the.Y lower Vedge:` cti said one. baille.and;gournaled.v in... said; side. walls, ,said' rolleri having thereinlongfitudi-nally', extending.. grocvessangularlm spaced around saidlroller andi havinggazwidt-h and.- depth slightly greater-thaw thethicknessof i autoothpickto, be;i dispensed; said. passagefbeingclosedwhen-. theslower. edge. ofzsaids onebaile contacts saidrollert-betweensaid-grooves. and being opened.; when: the lower.: edge; or.' said'. onebaflefis:disposedin-.oneoisaidzgrooves;means' secured; toY saidtrollenat. theouter: side of; one of l said-iside wallsrfon manuallyrotating'.said.:roll.y er., and.l means below said. roller: for. conveying-ztoothpicks to a location at Whichgtheyf are-1ee=movedifrox-n:thedispenser:

JESSE JQSQLOMON@ REFERENCES CITED.

. The: following: references; are 1 of reoorcli im the fileofithiszlpatentz; .f i.

UNITED STATESv PATEN'I'S Y Datei

